Video Game Adaptation of Historical Novel, The Pillars of the Earth, Coming in 2017

November 29, 2014
Written by Zarmena Khan

Developer Daedalic Entertainment has struck a deal to develop a video game based on the historical novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Published in 1989, the novel is about the building of a cathedral in England during the 12th century, and features a lot of political intrigue and conspiracies. Author Ken Follett expressed his excitement about the deal, stating that it will help bring his work to the attention of new readers.

I’m thrilled that ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ – which is probably my most famous book – is going to be turned into a computer game by Daedalic, now part of the Lübbe organisation. I believe this will bring my work to the attention of a new generation of readers. I’ve been working with Bastei Lübbe, and with the Lübbe-family, for 35 years now. It has been a most congenial partnership, and a very successful one. So I’m very happy that our association is being continued in these exciting ways.

Bastei Lübbe, Daedalic’s parent company, is also publishing Follett’s new novel. Executive Felix Rudloff said that he believes the game will increase interest in the new book:

To our knowledge, this will be the first time for a computer game of this scale to be published simultaneously with the new book of an international best-selling author. There will not only be a positive marketing effect by the novel on the game. Vice-versa, we believe the game will also increase the interest in the new book.

The game is scheduled for release on the PC as well as consoles in 2017. Exactly which systems the adventure will land on is yet to be announced.